Council members were largely mum on the unfolding FBI investigation, and the controversial practice of having kids involved in fundraisers amid traffic was just as hot a topic as the FBI’s search and seizures the past two days.

There was little gloating — well, maybe some — that the FBI finally managed to catch up with Mack and his troubled administration. There were no calls for Mack’s resignation, only a few angry put-downs aimed at the mayor and little of the public support for Mack that’s been voiced on Facebook and other social media sites.

Instead, residents generally kept their comments forward-looking, telling council the hard work of righting Trenton’s dysfunctional government was far from over.

“These last two days have been rather interesting in Trenton,” city activist Jim Carlucci said. “And it’s a diversion, a distraction. We have to get back more than ever, to put the city back on track. We need to stand up, talk and step in and pick up some of the slack that’s been displayed in the management of this city. There are questions hanging out there prior to the last couple of days that can’t get lost in the dust that’s been stirred up.”

Councilwoman Phyllis Holly-Ward, leading her first meeting as council president, addressed the meeting’s 35 attendees early, explaining that much of council’s agenda had been wiped for the night and would be picked up at another meeting next Thursday. Most of the 3½ hour meeting was taken up by public comment.

Holly-Ward said residents shouldn’t expect much in terms of answers from council regarding the FBI’s actions.

“Regarding the current investigative incidents that have taken place at City Hall, council has still not been given any information or given any reason why this investment is taking place,” she said. “Unfortunately, we have no information to give you. Council members have been present at City Hall going to every department and making sure daily business has not been interrupted.”

Later, during the civic comment section — an opportunity for council members to directly address the public or each other — all declined the chance to speak.

Besides council, city clerk Leona Baylor and assistant city attorney Peter Cohen, no members of the city’s administration attended last night’s meeting. Business administrator Sam Hutchinson appeared downstairs in City Hall before the meeting started and said he would leave it up to the FBI to answer what documents or materials were taken out of the building.

Resident Donald Brokate joined Carlucci in saying the FBI involvement could mobilize and motivate residents to seize control of a government that’s drifted further and further away from its citizens.

“We’ve had a tough few years that have pre-dated this administration and been made tougher by this administration,” he said. “But I’m confident that with the human capital we have in this city, that we will overcome this. Right now, some things are happening that we feel the federal government will take care of and I feel we, the citizens of Trenton, need to take care of ourselves. We need to come together.”

But vocal Mack critic Michael Walker drew laughter and appreciative applause as he ripped into Mack and asked how Trenton could even begin a rebirth under its current leadership.

“Reinvention can’t happen unless we have a functioning city government,” he said. “This organized crime situation at the end of the hall here … something has to be done about it.”

Walker said council had treated Mack and certain members of his cabinet — namely acting public works director Harold Hall — with kid gloves for too long. Now, with the FBI at City Hall’s door, he urged council to use its collective voice to really “pummel” Mack and demand answers.

“I’m glad the FBI is here because I’m sick of what’s going on,” he said. “You guys have to take the gloves off. They’re probably home destroying evidence. They’re not dumb,” Walker said. Council should force Mack to account for his actions, he said. “Hold his feet to the fire.”

Darren Green said city residents needed to snap out of a pattern of apathy.

“We have our mayor, and feds were in here yesterday and look at this room,” he said, gesturing to the half-empty council chambers. “You should have a room full of city residents asking, just like Marvin Gaye, ‘What’s going on?’ But you don’t.”